Carson's Growing Up!

Guess what? I learned to ride my bike in two days in a row, and I can do the best I can cause I know how to. I can ride my own bike without training wheels. I know it will be a good idea so I can have a great time riding my bike around the street.

I love to play tee ball. I like to hit the ball and run as fast as I can. I get to wear my orange shirt and a black hat. Everyday I want to play tee ball with my friends.

Love,

Carson

High School Reunion

I had known about my ten year high school reunion for a couple of months. I wasn't going to go, but then two weeks ago I received a phone call. They asked me to go. I have this problem. I have a really hard time telling people "no". So, I said I would be there.

I had two weeks to prepare. I tried eating really healthy, running, and biking. I gained 4 pounds the first week. Great. Just great.

I looked in my sad little closet for something cute to wear. Came up empty handed. I probably could have found something I wore in high school ten years ago. Now, that is just wrong. So, luckily, my rich, trendy, sister came to my rescue and borrowed me some way cute capris and a shirt. I secretly hope she doesn't want them back.

I had recently gotten my hair done (layered--ha ha) so I was okay in that area and just prayed for a good hair day.

Then, I decided Thursday to treat myself to one of my favorite things in the world and get a pedicure. I couldn't understand the Asian lady as she was talking to me about "Mikah Yaha da yinga" (Michael Jackson, the singer) who had died that day and hoped she wouldn't chop my foot off for being such a dork. I also splurged and had her wax my eyebrows for my first time ever and I think I am hooked. They look pretty good.

So, Saturday was the big day. I got all ready and felt pretty good. Ry was super excited too! ;) It was actually quite fun and it was fun to visit with some old friends. There were a few losers and you could totally tell who had gotten new boobs. That was funny! The food was delish and I am glad I went. Ry even had a good time. It was so silly to worry so much, but it was fun to get all beautified and feel good. I think I need to do that more often! I realized that I am satisfied with what I have done in the past ten years with college, career choice, getting married to Ry, and having my boys. I am far from perfect, but happy and that's what matters!

Pioneer Park

Wednesday, my mom, sisters, nieces, nephews, and the boys and I went to the This is the Place Park. It was a lot of fun. We met up for a picnic, rode a train, then got to do a lot of activities and collect some loot. The kids got to collect arrow heads, stamp leather, ride ponies, pet farm animals, do chores, get an old fashioned shave, get their picture taken, and go to school just to name a few.




A bunch of sister missionaries were there that day. I saw one that had a red badge with a white cross. I asked her if she wore that because she knew first aid. She politely, but subtley annoyed told me that she was from Switzerland. Oh, dumb me!

We had a great time and the boys were beat! This is definitely a place we would like to go back and see and do even more!

Sisters--I have a lot more pictures if you would like me to email them to you! Thanks for such a fun day!

Morning Wake-Up Call

This morning I got woken up by this. I knew they would be digging for our future neighbor's home, but I had no idea it would be so close!He seriously was right next to our fence and when he would turn around to dump the dirt, he came within millimeters. He would even start turning then look back and have to pull forward a bit before he could turn around. It will be a happy day when someone is moving in and the construction is over!

Happy Father's Day!

How Ryan found out he was going to be a dad....

February 2004: Ryan was working the graveyard shift. I had been out with my family and not feeling very well. I decided to stop at Target for a test. I took it home and immediately it was positive. I couldn't believe my eyes, and I couldn't believe I had to keep it to myself all night long. I tried to be creative in how to tell Ryan that he was going to be a dad, so I made up a sign to put on the door from the garage saying, "Congratulations Daddy!" I taped it to the doors and laid in bed. I was way too excited to sleep. After a very long night of waiting. I finally heard the garage door go up. It was time!!! Then I heard the door slam and heard Ryan run all the way upstairs. He was so excited and made my sleepless night worth it!

June 2006: Ryan was working the weekend and I was at church with Carson. While I was sitting there, I had a feeling that I was pregnant. I went home and took a test. There was a very faint line, so I wasn't quite sure if it was right. I decided to wait a couple of days then test again. Tuesday morning I woke up and repeated the test. Definitely positive that time! I had to leave for work, so I left the test by Ryan's sink. He called me later after he woke up to see if there was something I needed to tell him. :)

Ryan is a great dad. He has always been so helpful with the boys right from the beginning. I am so grateful for him. Carson and Wyatt idolize their dad and want to be just like him. I am also so blessed to have the best dad and a great father-in-law that has accepted me from the time they met me. We love you all and hope you had a great father's day!

Silly Wyatt!

I still put a diaper on Wyatt for bed because he usually can't make it through the night dry yet. One morning I got him out of bed and his pajama bottoms were on inside out. I thought that was weird, but then I took them off and found this. He had taken his diaper off sometime in the night and then put it back on backwards. He looked like a little Sumo man.
I was glad he had at least put it back on that time. I had to dig out the onesies and stretch the tight 12-month size over him. He hasn't figured out how to get those things off yet. He hates the diapers, but at least it is less laundry for me, right?

Payson Lakes

Last year Ryan took some vacation time which ended up being last weekend. We had to take advantage of it, so we decided to go camping up at Payson Lakes. Ryan was determined and the rain was not going to keep us home. We crossed our fingers and had Carson pray and went on our way. Crystal and Ryan and Emily and Bryce also braved the storm and came with us. We are so glad they did too because they are so awesome and helped with the boys a ton. :)

We drove up the canyon and stopped at the Grotto Trail. We had a picnic lunch, then went on a hike up to see the Grotto. Bryce and Ryan made friends with a starving dog and even had family portraits with it. I so wish I had those pictures! But, then the dog found someone else to follow back down and was gone by the time we got back.
Here Carson is posing. He was so excited to go camping and kept asking if we were camping yet. I think we will have many more camping experiences with this outdoor enthusiast!Wyatt and I took off down the trail because the running water was making me have to go--if you know what I mean. We stopped to take some pictures and Ryan caught up with us. He convinced me to just "go in the trees". I hiked back in and tried to--you know. (I really don't know why I'm sharing this!) I got startled by seeing someone coming and fell into this big black mud puddle in the only shoes I brought. Thank goodness it was only Carson who then had to share with everyone that I had my pants down. Thanks, son!
We made it to the Grotto and got to watch some lady in a cowboy hat and dress, sitting in the water having her self portrait taken. Probably for some singles website. We hung out for a bit, then left to go set up camp. The drive up to the camp spot was pouring rain and even some hail. We had Carson pray again. By the time we decided where to camp (just some place free off the side of the road), the rain stopped and we were able to set up. Half of us stayed back and started a fire to cook dinner while the others went fishing. We had dinner and played games then went to bed.

The next morning, I tried to get pictures, but my camera said the battery was dead. Come to find out it was cold. Anyway, I was in charge of breakfast and I thought for sure we would have power to cook on my electric griddle. Not only did we not have power, but there weren't bathrooms either. We were really roughing it by my terms. We had one dutch oven to cook all of the breakfast. We would cook the bacon and eat that, then the eggs, then the pancakes. I was quite impressed that Ryan A. could do all of that.

We decided to try fishing again, but went to a different place. It was this dirt road that turned into a muddy road down to a reservoir. It was beautiful down there, but after a maniac in a mini van tried to come down there and almost slid into our car, I decided to get the heck out of there. The afternoon storms returned and we decided to leave. We had a great time, it's not far from home, and it is beautiful! I am sure we will return!

Fun in the Sun

Remember running through the sprinklers when we were kids? We had one sprinkler to jump through, which was fun for maybe two minutes, then we would move it under the trampoline or other death defying tricks like making the big yellow slide a water slide.Now everyone has sprinkling systems so the kids are drenched the first run through. Looks so fun, I almost joined in. :)
Then, of course sunbathing and a picnic. They had to have their shades on. Notice they got all soaked in their clothes, then put on their swimming suits. We like to do things backward sometimes; it really adds to the fun.We finally got a few plants to put in one flower bed in the front yard. (I was about to pull a "Dick & Jane" if we didn't get something growing soon. I was secretly scoping out homes with lots of pretty, large plants.) We just got a few things that were on sale and not dead yet at Wally World. I hope with a lot of TLC (and Miracle Grow), they will flourish and do well. I must say it already looks a titch better.

Bed Update

Wyatt is doing so great in his bed. He has been going right to sleep. I am totally knocking on wood that this continues. I worried way too much! Carson is also doing great and staying in his room! He sleeps right on the edge next to the wall. There is probably enough room for four more people with him, but he loves the big bed. I don't know what we did to deserve these boys, but I sure love them!

Beds

When this started happening this week....

I got worried my Little Wy Wy was going to hurt himself and we needed to make the next step (which I have not been excited about) and move him to a big boy bed. I have just loved that I could put him in bed and he would stay and go right to sleep. I was planning on keeping him in the crib as long as possible since our experience transitioning Carson to a big bed wasn't easy.
Ryan got home from work yesterday and we switched everything up. Wyatt is sleeping on Carson's old twin bed. He was excited to jump on his new bed, but going to bed was not so fun.
Carson is sleeping on our old queen bed that has been in the basement. He loves his new bed and says it is so comfortable! He loves that he has to run and jump up to get on it.


So, Wyatt finally fell asleep around 10:30. Around 2:30, he must have moved all the way to the end, not side of the bed, and fell off. I put him back on and he went back to sleep. This morning, this is how I found him.
Who needs a bed anyway?


If anyone has any ideas on how to make this easier, I need your help!!

Kiss & Tell

Last night I had this disturbing conversation with Carson.

Me: Have you ever kissed a girl?

Carson: (Grinning ear to ear) YES!

Me: Who?

Carson: Sami (his cousin). We kissed after preschool one time. I was the dad and she was the mom.

Me: You know you're not supposed to kiss until you are married, remember? (I wish!)

Carson: Well, I like to kiss girls, and I am going to kiss a lot of girls too!

Oh, yes, I am thankful he like girls, but this boy is sure aging me real fast.

This Weekend

I don't have any pictures, but maybe next time. Saturday we decided to go biking. Carson wanted to ride in the baby seat behind Ryan. I am pretty sure he exceeded the weight limit. I pulled Wyatt in the trailer behind me. We decided if we split up the weight it might be a little easier. I think it would have been a better idea to have Ryan pull them both in the trailer. We rode on the Jordan River Parkway by the golf course here in SS, which ended up being 9 miles. Going uphill kicked my you-know-what, but going downhill makes it all worth it. I am so glad we are getting out and doing some fun things this summer, and more adventures are to come.